President Nursultan Nazarbayev talks with US VP Joseph Biden on the Phone

    At the beginning of the conversation, Joseph Biden expressed gratitude on behalf of the US President for Kazakhstan's role in renewal of Asia; Kazinform cited a press release from the president of Kazakhstan as stating.
    The US Vice President spoke highly of Kazakhstan‘s contribution to nuclear nonproliferation and stressed the US new administration will support Kazakhstan’s policy in this area.
    In turn, President Nazarbayev expressed support for nuclear initiatives stated by US President Barack Obama in Prague. Nazarbayev voiced similar ideas at the UN General Assembly in 2007.
    According to the head of state, the Non-Proliferation Treaty in its present form no longer meets today's challenges, and requires revision.
    Joseph Biden discussed the willingness of the new US leadership to priortize improving nuclear non-proliferation. He expressed his hope Kazakhstan would continue to participate actively in this process, and invited Nazarbayev to participate in an international non-proliferation conference.
    The two men also discussed the current status of and prospects for the development of Kazakhstani-American relations. They agreed that under current conditions, it is necessary to look for new ways to enhance cooperation, particularly in investment. In particular, Nazarbayev mentioned opportunities to resume the joint commission on cooperation.
    They also discussed a number of topical issues of international concern, including the global financial crisis.
    Mr. Biden said he believed the American economy would begin to revive in the 4^th quarter of this year. The two parties also agreed to maintain regular contact and continue working toward non-proliferation and nuclear arms reduction, Kazinform reports.